There’s a reason why we collect. There are probably several. Different people collect for different reasons. Something I try and focus on are some of the warm fuzzies the hobby brings me and hopefully others. In turn, it’ll help bring some sense and a face to collecting.
With all the mess ups, gimmicks, questionable marketing tactics and shifty “collectors” out there, it’s easy to complain.
Too easy.
I do it myself. But complaining isn’t fun.
I don’t want to create a love-in but I also think the time’s right to put more of a spotlight on things I enjoy about the hobby.
Sorting Stacks of Sports Cards
I love busting boxes, perhaps because I don’t do it that often. Looking for the big card is usually the first step, but when the 24 or 36 packs have all been opened and the treasure found, the next step is to begin sorting.
The routine begins with a big stack of commons – the entire box’s worth. Next step, break them up into hundreds. From there, down into tens and, finally, into singles and duplicates. It’s a simple system, one that might not be the fastest but it enables me to get a good feel for what I’ve got.
When the collation’s good, I get excited over the prospect of a complete set. If it’s one of those huge 700+-sets, then I can feel good about having a good chunk of the checklist covered.
I don’t know what it is about sorting that brings me happiness. I think it’s in part because I can tune a lot of the world out and focus on just baseball (or whatever set I’m building) and numbers. It’s more relaxing than Bach over a cup of fancy coffee on a rainy Saturday afternoon or a quiet morning of solitude while getting ready for work while the kids sleep in (not that that ever happens).
So there you have it. Sorting stacks: card collecting at its most zen.
